Huntington’s Meg McConnell is Suffolk’s Coach of the Year

Huntington High School boys’ swimming and diving coach Meg McConnell has been honored as Suffolk’s Coach of the Year. The Blue Devil alum and longtime boys’ and girls’ coach was presented with the award at this week’s county awards dinner at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.

McConnell has guided many Huntington swimmers and divers to prominent spots on podiums, including current Blue Devil senior Max Leroy, who was recognized at the county dinner as All-County, All-Long Island and All-State.

Deeply respected by her county coaching colleagues, McConnell coached this year’s Huntington team to a 7-1 record and third place county finish.

Among those singing McConnell’s praises at the dinner was Tom Scott, a 2013 Huntington alum who is the coach of the Northport/Commack combined team.

“During my time at Huntington I was a 4-year varsity swimmer and Meg McConnell was one of the coaches during that time,” Scott said. “I have been the head coach for the Northport and Commack Varsity teams for about seven years now and had the unique opportunity to also interact with her as a professional. Meg has taken shifts as a lifeguard at the YMCA so my varsity team can train in the mornings. She cares for her athletes, is involved in the community and is widely known and respected among the athletes and coaches throughout Section XI. Coach Meg has instilled lifelong lessons, discipline and structure that has been imprinted onto so many athletes over the years and is the epitome of the true definition of coach.”

McConnell is the head coach of the combined Huntington/Walt Whitman/Harborfields/John H. Glenn team.

“In all of her years of service, she has never truly received the full recognition of the time and effort she has put in,” Scott said. “I was honored and humbled to have presented her with the award and it was a pleasure to have been able to speak to her kindness, compassion and skill set as a coach.”